2012 River Runners Program:

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1 The New Hampshire Rivers Council is committed to the conservation and ecologically sound management of New Hampshire's rivers, watersheds and related natural resources.

2 2012 River Runners Program: Introduction and Invasive Aquatic Plant Identification Exercise Presented by Laurie G. Callahan, Aquatic Biologist Funding provided by NH Dept. of Env. Services Exotic Species Prevention Grant and the McIninch Foundation

3 Water Conference Workshop Goals Introduce NHRC s 2012 River Runners program Provide basic info about didymo & 14 prohibited invasive aquatic plant (IAP) species in NH Discuss elements of didymo ( rock snot ) & IAP early detection & spread prevention Use the Quick Key to learn basic IAP identification techniques & when to suspect you have found an IAP Generate interest among individuals & groups to participate in the River Runners program

4 River Runners Interns carriedout project activities didymo & IAP surveillance, reporting and outreach

5 River Runners 2012 No project interns involved Will hold educational outreach workshops to build volunteer teams & network Workshops to be held in 4-5 regions of NH Local & regional groups, individuals as participants Focus on didymo and IAP EARLY DETECTION & SPREAD PREVENTION

6 Native Nuisance Exotic or Alien Invasive

7 Slide from Leslie Matthews, VT DEC

8 USDA National Invasive Species Information Center An "invasive species" is defined as a species that is 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. (Executive Order 13112). Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g., microbes). Human actions are the primary means of invasive species introductions.

9 Ecologic Impacts Grow and spread rapidly Out-compete native plants (an additional concern if natives are rare, threatened or endangered) Threaten biodiversity Can alter natural food webs & habitats Can impact water quality

10 Economic Impacts Property value decrease estimated at approx. 15% for property adjacent to infested water bodies. Projected 7-19% by region of NH for drop in sales, income and jobs lost due to perceived decrease in water quality or purity of recreational waters. (Algae blooms and IAP infestations are included.) Significant impacts experienced by local communities especially when local economy is dependent on recreation related to a water body. Millions of dollars spent on IAS control in New England; approx. $500,000 spent annually managing water chestnut on Lake Champlain in VT & NY; in 2008 $64,0000 spent by Little Sebago Lake Assoc. in ME on variable milfoil control & removal; to-date in 2008 Danforth Pond, Freedom had spent approx. $90,000 on variable milfoil management.

11 IAP Can Interfere With Recreational Uses and Aesthetic Enjoyment Imagine Swimming, Boating or Fishing Under These Conditions! Photo from VT Department of Environmental Conservation Photo by L. Callahan

12 What are the potential economic impacts in New Hampshire?

13 .in 2012 Free workshops in 4-5 NH regions Regional perspective for workshops; PowerPoint presentation with plant ID session and a local field site visit Local or regional groups as participants Build volunteer network Focus on EARLY DETECTION, with documentation, & SPREAD PREVENTION

14 General Approach Toward IAP Awareness, Spread Prevention and Management Early detection Spread prevention strategies & education Control rapid response & long term management strategies

15 Detecting the Presence of IAS is a Crucial Element: Documentation of presence is important to track their spread or to initiate spread prevention or management strategy. Important to document that IAS are NOT present. Awareness of presence may decrease the chances that it will spread - locally or to another location. Important for controlling their impact on vulnerable habitats and native species The earlier an IAS population is found the less costly it will be to control - ecological, monetary & effort

16 How do aquatic invaders spread? Fragmentation of certain plants are a major way they are spread usually through human activity and also via transport by water currents.

17 See the NH DES Attention Boaters brochure for the map of IAP and didymo locations

18 In 2007,the first occurrences of the invasive alga didymo, or rock snot, were found in the northeast - along the northern reaches of the CT River (VT/NH). Since then, it has been found to occur in several other rivers in the northeast and New England.

19 WARNING The invasive algae didymo is present in this river STOP ROCK SNOT After leaving this water: CHECK - Remove all visible clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing, water shoes and sandals, canoes and kayaks, and anything else that has been in the water. CLEAN Scrub thoroughly then soak all items for at least ten minutes in very hot water with LOTS of soap. Felt sole waders need 30 minutes!!!! Get more information: In Vermont contact the VT DEC at or visit In New Hampshire, contact the NH DES at or visit Please do your part Don t Spread Didymo!

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21 Didymo near Stony Brook, a tributary of the White River in VT Didymo CT River Pittsburg, NH It may look SLIMY, but is described as feeling like felt, cottony or having the texture of a wet cotton ball or wet wool. Photos from Amy Smagula NH DES

22 Didymo is a type of single-celled diatom algae. Diatoms have silica cell walls. The stalk of Didymo can be many times larger than the cell. The negative impacts of Didymo blooms are generally due to the massive production of stalk material.

23 This is Rock Snot in a New Zealand river.

24 What are Didymo s environmental impacts? Didymo can change: Stream Macroinvertebrates. The population will likely change to invertebrate communities more tolerant of habitat degradation. The stream bottom. The stalks trap fine sediment making a thick mat. This reduces habitat for native algae and the ability for macroinvertebrates to move and feed. It can then effect fish that consume the macroinvertebrates. The stream appearance. The long stalks are unappealing. When the stalks die they can look like toilet paper, giving the appearance of a sewage leak.

25 Identifying Didymo in the field Field Conditions: Rivers or streams with stable bottoms such as cobble or rock Water conditions are usually clear, cool (optimal temperature is about 60 0 F) High light penetration Lower nutrients Water flow is generally moderate to moderately fast. CHECK THE: Location Color Texture YES, it may be Didymo Mostly clear flowing water with rocky bottom. Tan, light brown or whitish. Clumps of ropy strands, rough cottony, fibrous. Appearance No leaves or roots (but may attach to leaves or stems). Sometimes mistaken for fiberglass, toilet paper or tissue. NO, it s probably not Didymo Deep silty areas with no rocks or plants, highly colored water. Green or dark brown/black. Thin layers, slippery or gelatinous. Leaves or roots. Looks like an aquatic plant.

26 How does Didymo spread?? The alga is small - it can go unobserved as a single cell. It can remain alive for several weeks out of water if kept moist. Felt soled waders are often to blame - fishermen use them to grip on slippery rock bottoms. The alga attaches to the felt, and if not cleaned can spread to another waterbody. Any recreational equipment can spread Didymo - bait buckets, neoprene diving gear, water shoes/sandals, canoes, kayaks, life jackets, etc.

27 Felt-soled waders are now banned in VT. Slide from Leslie Matthews, VT DEC

28 Slide from Leslie Matthews, VT DEC

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30 This image cannot currently be displayed. NH s Frightful 14 prohibited exotic aquatic plant species Variable milfoil Eurasian milfoil Fanwort Curly leaf pondweed Water chestnut European water nymph Brazilian waterweed Purple loosestrife Common reed/phragmites Not yet found in NH: Hydrilla European frogbit Yellow floating heart Parrotfeather Flowering rush It is illegal to possess, transport, introduce or sell these 14 aquatic plant species in NH. (Please take a look at the Frightful Fourteen brochure)

31 Variable milfoil Eurasian milfoil Parrotfeather Water Chestnut Yellow Floating Heart European Frogbit Fanwort Submersed Curly leaf pondweed European water nymph Brazilian waterweed Hydrilla Floating-leaved

32 The remaining 3 species of NH s Frightful Fourteen are Wetland or Riparian Plants Common reed Purple loosestrife (Photos from NH DES & IPANE) Flowering rush

33 Most Prevalent IAP in New Hampshire Variable milfoil found in 69 NH water bodies 59 lakes/ponds, 10 rivers (Photo by L. Callahan) Variable Milfoil, Brown Brook inlet to Lake Arrowhead, York County, Maine (Photo by D. Buckley) Variable Milfoil, Cobbossee Stream, Kennebec County, Maine

34 Variable Milfoil in channel between Squam Lake & Little Squam Lake (several years ago) Photo by Dan Buckley, University of ME, Farmington Photo from NH DES

35 Little Ossipee River, York County, Maine Photos by L. Callahan Variable milfoil

36 Variable milfoil in the Little Ossipee River, York County, Maine Photo by L. Callahan

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38 Eurasian milfoil in the Connecticut River, Orford, NH (2007) Photo by Laurie Callahan

39 Below: Eurasian milfoil in the Retreat Meadows backwater of the West River before convergence with the CT River. (Brattleboro, VT, 2004) Above: Eurasian milfoil in the Connecticut River, between Brattleboro, VT & Hinsdale, NH. (2007) Photos by Laurie Callahan

40 Variable milfoil Water chestnut Curly leaf pondweed Nashua River Nashua, NH Fanwort Eurasian milfoil European water nymph

41 Aquatic Plant ID Exercise Using the Quick Key

42 During the plant identification exercise we will use Maine VLMP s Quick Key for determining whether a plant sample suspiciously resembles one of the 11 submersed or floating leaved species on NH s Frightful Fourteen list.

43 Some Basics of Aquatic Plant Identification

44 Aquatic Plants in the Littoral Zone Floating Leaved Emergent Submersed

45 Basic Descriptions of Aquatic Plant Structure

46 Leaf Arrangement on Stem Alternate Opposite Whorled

47 Leaf Type Entire Serrate or Toothed Divided

48 Divided Leaf Patterns Branched Forked Feathered

49 2012 River Runners Program 4-5 free River Runners workshops will be offered in June & July Regional perspective for workshops Workshops include a PowerPoint presentation with plant ID session, a local field site visit to perform an IAP or didymo screening survey or to practice using the Quick Key for IAP identification If you, and other members of your organization, are interested in participating in a workshop please provide your contact info on the sign-up sheet. Thanks! Contact: Beth Flagler, Program Administrator New Hampshire Rivers Council bflagler@nhrivers.org Portsmouth Street Concord, NH 03301